“Hyka brings an element of surprise to any team and to any match,” Earthquakes general manager Jesse Fioranelli said in a news release. “Being a player that is very strong technically, he attacks the defense in one-on-one situations without any indication of which way he will go or the pass that he will be making. This means that our strikers will be well served and the element of surprise will allow us to attack from many fronts.”

The 28-year-old Hyka has scored six goals in 15 games this season in the Super League. His previous high in the league was five, in his debut season with Luzern in 2011-12. Overall he netted 25 goals and added 20 assists in 182 appearances for the Swiss side.

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Hyka has been capped 42 times by the Albanian national team with his most recent appearance coming in a 2-0 World Cup qualifying loss to Spain in October.

The Earthquakes will not doubt be hoping the midfielder emulates the success of his national team teammate Shkelzen Gashi, who joined the Colorado Rapids from the Swiss Super League side Basel last season and was an important piece in the Rapids' successful 2016 campaign.